2016 Annual Report

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2Co 1.3-7NIV)

Paul's words fill our hearts so much with courage (for we know that the work of conviction is Christ's) as of challenge. The Word of Truth must be preached, not what we find or what we want, but the Scriptures. At all times, we must say, "Not I, Lord, but your word that dwells in me."

Since we came to the mission field in Japan, we have shared the difficulties of this place. Less than 1% of the population is Christian. Per recent research, we work in the second least evangelized country in the world. There is a religious concession from the government, but it can be revoked at any time. Thank God there is not even a rumor of such possibility, on the contrary, we have seen and witnessed the thirst for the Scripture in so many who live here.

We were in Brazil from December / 2015 to April / 2016, when I carried out some complementary workshops required by our mission board, visited our project´s partner churches of and made contacts for new co-workers of Christ is Life Pres. Church- Japan. We also had a time to rest, to see our relatives and travel through our home country for speaking engagements and some wonderful experiences for the glory of God.

When we returned to the field in Japan on April 11. We became very pleased to see the brethren, who stood firm and strengthened under the shepherding of the supreme shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.

In early May, during the holiday week, we gathered over forty people for a barbecue in our house. Many visitors participated with us.

I have intensified the work in counseling and individual discipleship as I spend most of the day talking to people (some days more than four people) and church families, be it by phone, Skype or in person. We focused more efforts in publicizing the work over the internet. I started Jiu-Jitsu classes both to take care of health and to open the range of contact with other residents here (this opened opportunities to preach the gospel to Japanese as well). Our whole family is currently involved in this activity.

Ruth began her studies at the Japanese school. She has been developing language learning much faster since then. We believe this will be a very important bridge to work here.

Under Marcia's leadership a meeting with the women of the church was begun. They meet once a month, usually on the third Saturday, study the Bible, spend time in fellowship and exchange experiences, and have lunch together.

On May 22, we resumed our Sunday School classes. At first only one room, studying Francis Schaeffer´s 25 Bible studies on salvation. About 20 people were present. The following Sunday Marcia started another class, with the juniors, studying a material that I prepared for the catechumens. Now this class has eight students and already needs to be divided by the diversity of ages. In September, another room was formed, of young people, studying the Westminster Confession of Faith. There are about 10 young people. We greatly rejoice over the fat that this year of 2017 another room began, now with Japanese, in Nihongo,. There are three students studying the foundations of the Christian faith.

We continue our meetings on Fridays, finished a chapter by chapter study on  the book of Proverbs, and now we are doing a panoramic study of the Pentateuch.

We are gathering on Sundays for the public worship of the Lord. We are a now a group of 50 people. God has blessed our work, giving us numerical growth, as we strive to teach and learn from the Bible. Seven men from the church are studying online at the Reformed Institute, led by a well-known Presbyterian Professor and Pastor, Rev. Leandro Lima.

Every Sunday we have a luncheon in our house. I cook on Saturday for everyone and when Sunday comes, we can just enjoy God´s grace as we fellowship with one another. Our heart rejoices in our God, for time after time he shows his care toward us. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

We meet on Sundays at the Christ Bible Institute building (https://cbijapan.org/). This institute is a work of PCA pastors (Presbyterian Church in America). It is exactly half way to most church members (today some travel more than an hour to get to our house). The location is also on the side in the biggest train and subway station in our area.

During 2016 we received twenty new members by transfer, one by baptism and public profession of faith and we performed the baptism of ten children.

Márcia, as many of you have heard (and prayed, and helped financially, thank you dear ones!). A car rear-ended our car, while at the traffic lights. We lost our vehicle, which, although old and small, answered all our needs. We were asking God for a larger vehicle, because our children grew (and a lot!), And because we needed to assist those who need logistical support to go to church schedules. With the insurer's reimbursement, this need has been met! We got another car, bigger and newer, and we could help our church folk who can´t get around. God's glory! Márcia stopped working in school, and despite the financial stress, we chose to dedicate her time fully in the church. Her position as a teacher offered a good discount on David's tuition, as well as almost twenty percent of our income. Please join us in prayers of gratitude, for we will have more time together, as we depend entirely on our Lord.

In October, we held our first youth retreat at Camp Raphayada, Gifu, with the attendance of 35 plus staff. Since it was so successful we are now planning for a larger attendance Spring Family Retreat, having as a lecture pastor David Portela, Canadian missionary in Cambodia, speaking on self-identity, the identity of Christ and the identity of the church in a rude postmodern social media. (We still have vacancies May 04th,05th,06th/17).

The Church met at the end of the year at the pastoral residence. Both Christmas and New Year were celebrated with a special dinner, and a brief reflection of Pastor Daniel. In these occasions, we gathered more than fifty people. We also exchanged Christmas presents.

OUR WEEKLY ACTIVITIES:

Sunday School: Sunday, 9:30 am in Nagoya

Adults. 20 -  students

Children 4-10 -  7 enrolled

Youth group. 12-20 - 8 students.

Presenting the Gospel *class in Nihongo. 3 students

Public Worship: Sunday, 10:30 in Nagoya

Friday Night Bible study *(average 40 people attending

Group of Women: 3rd Sunday of each month

We look forward to the year 2017, which promises to be exciting and very busy. For us, it is a blessing to see how everything and everyone is growing by the grace and mercy of our Lord.

Ruth will finish Chogako (middle school) in March, and in April begins a new stage at Chugako (junior high school). We share our great joy that our church also grows with children of her own age so that it can have fellowship in Christ with them.

Davi begins his senior year at an international school. We are proud of his endurance and patience, showing how he has matured as a man of God. He likes to play his instruments (five of them), and plays in the church as part of worship. We pray for guidance as he makes decisions this very important year of his life.

Daniel spends his days in the preparation of studies, sermons, and lectures. Teaching English, discipleship, counseling, and general church activities take up most of the day, approximately sixteen hours. We are very grateful that, although our agenda is busy, we find time to invest in our family, which is our first mission.

We are so grateful for the prayers and support of so many people we do not even know. If ever you come by these bands, be sure to stop by and be an eyewitness of what the Lord is doing in and through us.

In Christ,

Gomes Family Japan